19591From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the pamphlet of the author of War in disguise of it’s first half the topics & the treatment of them are very common place. but from page 118. to 130. it is most interesting to all nations, and especially to us. convinced that a militia of all ages promiscuously are entirely useless for distant service, and that we never shall be safe until we have a selected corps for a year’s...
19592From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 5 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday only yours of Apr. 27. with the letters of Armstrong, Turreau, Hull, Depeyster, Lee and the resolutions of Nelson county, all of which are now returned, with the pamphlet of the author of War in disguise, and a letter of Genl. Wilkinson’s for circulation & to remain with the Attorney Genl. I recieved no letter from mr Gallatin on the subject of Turreau’s application for...
19593From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 8 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you Monroe’s letter of Mar. 5. as the explosion in the British ministry took place about the 15th. I hope we shall be spared the additional embarrasment of his convention. I inclose you a letter of Michl. Jones for circulation & to rest with the Atty Genl. it contains new instances of Burr’s enlistments. I recieved this from mr Gallatin, so you can hand it to Genl. Dearborn...
19594From John Graham to James Madison, 11 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I arrived here yesterday after a passage of eighteen days from New Orleans. I came in the same vessel with Genl Wilkinson who has brought round with him, some eight or nine of Burrs men under an expectation that they will be important Witnesses. Some of them will probably tell all they know, but I fear this will not be the case with those who know most. The General has chartered a Pilot Boat...
19595From Caesar Augustus Rodney to James Madison, 11 May 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
On my arrival here, I found that the District Attorney was at Princeton, & I determined, if Burr had not left the city to apply immediately for a warrant against him for treason, so as to secure & have him put on in custody to Richmond for trial, unless some good natured judge released him upon Hab. Corpus. He has been obliged in order to elude the Sheriff’s officers who had, I am informed...
19596From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Commissions are desired for the following persons. Alexander Moore of Columbia as Register of wills for the county of Alexandria. Thomas H. Williams of Misipi Territory as Secretary of the sd territory. Jacob Descamps of Virginia as Surveyor of the port of Charlestown in the district of Misipi Joseph Buell of Ohio as Surveyor of the port of Marietta in the district of Misipi James W. Moss of...
19597From Thomas Mathews to James Madison, 23 June 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
An occurrence took place yesterday off our Capes (between Six & Ten miles) which I hold it my duty to make known to the Government. The Chesapeake Sailed from Hampton Roads yesterday for her destination; at the distance before mentioned, she was boarded by an Officer from the British Ship Leopard rated at fifty guns, and a demand made of certain Seamen. Captain Barron refused to deliver up any...
19598From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
These papers from Governor Cabell are inclosed for your perusal: I am about to answer the Governor’s letter but whether I shall be able in time for this day’s post, I do not know. if not, I will send you his letter & my answer by tomorrow’s post, with which answer I will pray you to send him the papers now inclosed, returning to me his letter Will you be so good as to direct a commission to be...
19599From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 7 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I have finished my letter alluded to in the cover of Govr. Cabell’s papers, and no post is yet arrived. it therefore goes with those papers. be so good as to examine it deliberately, and make in it any corrections it may need, noting them to be that I may make correspondent changes in the copy retained. if the corrections do not deface the letter, seal and send it on returning me the Gov’s...
19600From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 9 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours of yesterday was recieved in the course of the day. our post-rider has not yet got to be punctual, arriving here from 2. to 4. hours later than he should do, that is to say from 3. to 5. aclock instead of 1. I mean to propose to him that being rigorously punctual in his arrival, I will always discharge him the moment he arrives instead of keeping him till 7. aclock as the Postmaster...
19601From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 11 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I pray you to peruse & consider the inclosed letter of Governor Cabell and my answer, and to exercise over the latter the same discretion I have confided to Genl. Dearborne, returning it to me for any material correction, or forwarding it to the General if you think it will do, and by the same post, as it goes so circuitously. I suspect your difficulty with the mail lock proceeded as it did at...
19602From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 16 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I recieved yesterday your two letters without date on the subjects now to be answered. I do not see any objection to the appointment of mr Cocke as Agent at Martinique. that of a Consul at Mogadore is on more difficult ground. a Consul in Barbary is a diplomatic character, altho’ the title does not imply that. he recieves a salary fixed by the legislature; being independant of Simpson we...
19603From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers recieved yesterday. mr Erskine complains of a want of communication between the British armed vessels in the Chesapeake or off the coast. if by off the coast he means those which being generally in our waters, go occasionally out of them to cruise or to acquire a title to communicate with their Consul it is too poor an evasion for him to expect us to be the dupes of. if...
19604From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 19 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I suppose mr Gamble should be told that his opinion in favor of the appointment of a Consul General for the Danish islands being founded on the supposition of a war with England, the Executive cannot at present act on that ground. it would seem indeed that in the event of war, our agent or agents in those islands would be very important persons, & should therefore be chosen with care. I...
19605From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your letter to Dayton I think perfectly right, unless perhaps the expression of personal sympathy in the 1st. page might be misconstrued, & coupled with the circumstance that we had not yet instituted a prosecution against him, altho’ possessed of evidence. poor Yznardi seems to have been worked up into distraction by the persecutions of Meade. I inclose you a letter I have recieved from him....
19606From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 24 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I presume the two commissions of militia officers in the District of Columbia which you inclosed yesterday, were meant as resignations. I have sent them as such to the War office. I was misinformed as to the name of the person appointed Secretary of Orleans. altho always called Bolling Robertson it seems his name is Thomas Bolling Robertson. will you be so good as to order a new commission, &...
19607From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 25 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Yours without date was recieved yesterday. about 3. or 4. days ago mr Nelson called on me with a letter from Genl. Lee informing me he was summoned in the case which is the subject of your letter, & expressing his difficulties. I had never had any information of the case, it’s parties or subject, except that I had read in the newspapers some time ago that a prosecution was commenced in...
19608From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Colo. Newton’s enquiries are easily solved I think by application of the principles we have assumed. 1. the interdicted ships are enemies . should they be forced by stress of weather to run up into safer harbors, we are to act towards them as we would towards enemies in regular war in a like case. permit no intercourse, no supplies, & if they land kill or capture them as enemies. if they lie...
19609From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 30 August 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
There can be no doubt that Foronda’s claim for the money advanced to Lt. Pike should be repaid; & while his application to yourself is the proper one, we must attend to the money’s being drawn from the proper fund, which is that of the war department. I presume therefore it will be necessary for you to apply to Genl. Dearborne to furnish the money. will it not be proper to rebut Foronda’s...
19610From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I think with you we had better send to Algiers some of the losing articles in order to secure peace there while it is uncertain elsewhere. while war with England is probable every thing leading to it with any other nation should be avoided, except with Spain. as to her, I think it the precise moment when we should declare to the French government that we will instantly seise on the Floridas as...
19611From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 2 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
The extract of a letter to Bishop Carroll I have inclosed to Genl. Dearborne. I return you judge Davies’s letter. if we meddle in the case at all, should it not be by sending the letter to the Attorney General who will know best how to prevent a conflict of jurisdictions. I inclose you the copy of a letter from Genl. Smith to mr Gallatin, communicated by the Generel to P. Carr & by him to me....
19612From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 3 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Mr. Smith’s letter of Aug. 29. & the papers it inclosed, and which are now reinclosed, will explain to you the necessity of my confirming his proposition as to the means of apprising our East India commerce of their danger, without waiting for further opinions on the subject. you will see that it throws on you the immediate burthen of giving the necessary instructions with as little delay as...
19613From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 4 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
After writing to mr Smith my letter of yesterday by the post of the day, I recieved one from him now inclosed, and covering a letter from mr Crownenshield on the subject of notifying our E. India trade. to this I have written the answer herein, which I have left open for your perusal with Crownenshield’s letter, praying you will seal & forward them immediately with any considerations of your...
19614From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I returned here yesterday afternoon & found, as I might expect an immense mass of business. with the papers recieved from you I inclose you some others which will need no explanation. I am desired by the Secy. of the navy to say what must be the conduct of Com. Rogers at New–York on the late or any similar entry of that harbor by British armed vessels. I refer him to the orders to Decatur as...
19615From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 20 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return all the papers recieved in yours of the 18. & 19th. except one solliciting office, & judge Woodward’s letters, to be communicated to the Secretary at War. should not Claiborne be instructed to say at once to Govr. Folch that as we never did prohibit any articles (except slaves) from being carried up the Misipi to Baton rouge, so we do not mean to prohibit them, & that we only ask a...
19616From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 22 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers which accompanied yours of yesterday. I think the case of Capt Hewes is merely a case for a demand of indemnification from Gr. Br. and a proper acknolegement of the violation of jurisdiction. it would be a very dangerous precedent for Congress to indemnify the individual. I think it would be well for Smith to be furnished with the declaration of mr Canning only taking...
19617From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 26 September 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Health & weather permitting I shall set out on Wednesday without fail. if I can get off early enough I will be with you by half after three, supposed your dining hour. but knowing how difficult it is to clear out from home at any given hour, if I find I cannot be with you at half past three I shall dine at Gordon’s & beg not to be waited for. recieve for yourself & mrs Madison my affectionate...
19618From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 21 October 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I send you a letter from the Ex-basha of Tripoli. had we not better be done with this man by giving him a plain answer stating the truth & sending him the extracts from our instructions, by which he will see that if our agent engaged any thing beyond that he went beyond his powers, and could not bind us. nothing short of this can clear us of his sollicitations. we might go further and promise...
19619From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1 November 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
Your’s of Oct. 7. was recieved on the 11th. and remains as you desired, within my own breast. I had a considerable time before proposed the place to Colo. L. Smith, & recieved his acceptance by the same post which brought your letter. I acknolege at the same time that I should have had some qualms of conscience excited by my attachment to the college on one side, & to yourself on the other.—we...
19620From Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 6 December 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
I return you the papers on Clarke’s claim, which indeed I have not considered with all the attention which should be done were this an ultimate decision but my first impression is that the claim ought to be rejected. It is clearly a claim for money, not for land. The Commrs. of N.Y. were constituted a special court of justice to distribute the 30,000. D. of Vermont according to right, & they...